The Honest Woodcutter – English Story with Moral Lesson
This is a short moral story about the honest woodcutter who lost his axe in the river. His honesty was tested, and it brought him an unexpected reward.
Once upon a time, there lived a poor woodcutter. Every day, he went to the forest to cut wood and sell it in the market. He was very honest and hardworking.
One day, while cutting a tree near a river, his axe slipped from his hands and fell into the water. The woodcutter was very sad because it was his only axe. Without it, he could not earn money.
Suddenly, a magical fairy appeared. She asked, “Why are you so sad?”
The woodcutter explained, “My axe has fallen into the river. Without it, I cannot work.”
The fairy went into the river and brought out a golden axe. She asked, “Is this your axe?”
The woodcutter replied, “No, that is not mine.”
The fairy went again and returned with a silver axe. She asked, “Is this your axe?”
The woodcutter said, “No, that is also not mine.”
Finally, the fairy brought out the old iron axe of the woodcutter. He smiled and said, “Yes! That is my axe.”
The fairy was very happy with his honesty. She gave him all three axes — the golden, the silver, and his own iron axe — as a reward.
The woodcutter returned home happily and continued his life with honesty.
📚 Vocabulary List
- Axe – a tool with a heavy metal blade used for cutting wood
Example: The woodcutter used his axe to cut trees. - Honesty – the quality of telling the truth
Example: Honesty is important in friendship. - Reward – something given in return for good behavior
Example: The police gave him a reward for finding the lost bag. - Golden – made of gold or looking like gold
Example: She wore a golden ring. - Silver – a valuable, shiny gray-white metal
Example: The necklace was made of silver.
❓ Comprehension Questions
- What did the woodcutter lose in the river?
- Who helped the woodcutter?
- What was the first axe that the fairy showed?
- Why did the fairy give all three axes to the woodcutter?
- What lesson can we learn from this story?
💡 Moral of the Story
⭐ Honesty is the best policy.
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